Folding seat mounting apparatus

Abstract

A seat mounting apparatus for supporting a seat on a floor of a motor vehicle and for allowing the seat to be positioned from an upright seating position to a folded position. The seat mounting apparatus includes a seat back frame (24) having an upper end (27) and a lower end (28) pivotally attached to the floor; a seat bottom frame (34) having a forward end (35) and a rearward end (36) disposed adjacent to the seat back frame when the seat is in the upright seating position; a leg (44) having a first end (46) pivotally connected to the seat bottom frame and a second end (48) pivotally connected to the floor; a slotted link (50) having a third end (52) pivotally connected to the floor and a slot (54) extending from a position substantially adjacent to the third end to a fourth end (56) opposite the third end, the slot being slidably engaged with a slider pin (57) disposed on the seat back frame; and a rear link (58) having a fifth end (62) rigidly attached to the seat bottom frame and a sixth end (68) pivotally attached to an intermediate pivot point (64) on the slotted link, the intermediate pivot point being disposed intermediate of the third and fourth ends of the slotted link. Upon movement of the seat back frame from the upright position to the folded position, the slotted link together with the rear link position the seat bottom frame forward and downward such that the seat back frame lies substantially flat and parallel to the floor.

We claim: 
     
       1. A seat mounting apparatus for supporting a seat on a floor of a motor vehicle and allowing the seat to be positioned from an upright seating position to a folded position, said seat mounting apparatus comprising: a seat back frame having an upper end and a lower end for pivotal attachment to the floor;   a seat bottom frame having a forward end and a rearward end disposed adjacent to said seat back frame when said seat is in the upright seating position;   a first leg having a first end pivotally connected to said seat bottom frame and having a second end for pivotal connection to the floor;   a pivotable first slotted link having a third end for pivotal connection to the floor and a slot extending from a position substantially adjacent to said third end to a fourth end opposite said third end, said slot being slidably engaged with a slider pin disposed on said seat back frame; and   a first rear link having a fifth end rigidly attached to said seat bottom frame and a sixth end pivotally attached to an intermediate pivot point on said first slotted link, said intermediate pivot point being disposed intermediate of said third and fourth ends of said first slotted link;   whereby upon movement of said seat back frame from the upright position to the folded position, said first slotted link together with said first rear link operatively position said seat bottom frame forward and downward such that said seat back frame lies substantially flat and parallel to the floor.   
     
     
       2. The seat mounting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said slot in said first slotted link is in the form of an arcuate slot with a radius of curvature directed toward the forward end of said seat bottom frame. 
     
     
       3. The seat mounting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprises: a second leg, each of said first and second legs having a first end pivotally connected to said seat bottom frame and having a second end for pivotal connection to the floor;   a second slotted link, said first and second slotted links each having a third end for pivotal connection to the floor and a slot extending from a position substantially adjacent to said third end to a fourth end opposite said third end, said slot being slidably engaged with a slider pin disposed on said seat back frame; and   a second rear link, said first and second rear links each having a fifth end rigidly attached to said seat bottom frame and a sixth end pivotally attached to intermediate pivot points on each said first and second slotted links, said intermediate pivot points being disposed intermediate of said third and fourth ends of said first and second slotted links.   
     
     
       4. The seat mounting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprises: a release lever pivotally attached to said lower end of said seat back frame and being adapted to selectively engage a striker mounted on the floor to lock said seat back frame in the upright position.   
     
     
       5. A seat mounting apparatus for supporting a seat on a floor of a motor vehicle and allowing the seat to be positioned from an upright seating position to a folded position, said seat mounting apparatus comprising: a seat back frame having an upper end and a lower end for pivotal attachment to the floor;   a seat bottom frame having a forward end and a rearward end disposed adjacent to said seat back frame when said seat is in the upright seating position;   first and second legs each having a first end pivotally connected to said seat bottom frame and each having a second end for pivotable connection to the floor;   first and second pivotable slotted links each having a third end for pivotal connection to the floor and a slot extending from a position substantially adjacent to said third end to a fourth end opposite said third end, said slot being slidably engaged with a slider pin disposed on said seat back frame; and   first and second rear links each having a fifth end rigidly attached to said seat bottom frame and a sixth end pivotally attached to an intermediate pivot point on each of said first and second slotted links, said intermediate pivot point being disposed intermediate of said third and fourth ends of said first and second slotted links;   whereby upon movement of said seat back frame from the upright position to the folded position, said first and second slotted links together with said first and second rear links operatively position said seat bottom frame forward and downward such that said seat back frame lies substantially flat and parallel to the floor.   
     
     
       6. The seat mounting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said slot in each of said first and second slotted links is in the form of an arcuate slot with a radius of curvature directed toward the forward end of said seat bottom frame. 
     
     
       7. The seat mounting apparatus according to claim 5, further comprises: a release lever pivotally attached to said lower end of said seat back frame and being adapted to selectively engage a striker mounted on the floor to lock said seat back frame in the upright position.   
     
     
       8. A seat mounting apparatus for supporting a seat on a floor of a motor vehicle and allowing the seat to be positioned from an upright seating position to a folded position, said seat mounting apparatus comprising: a seat back frame having an upper end, right and left back sides and a lower end for pivotal attachment to the floor;   a seat bottom frame having a forward end, right and left bottom sides and a rearward end disposed adjacent to said seat back frame when said seat is in the upright seating position;   first and second front legs each having a first end pivotally connected to said right and left bottom sides of said seat bottom frame, respectively, and each having a second end for pivotal connection to the floor;   first and second pivotable slotted links each having a third end for pivotal connection to the floor between said lower end of said seat back frame and said first and second front legs, each of said first and second slotted links having a slot extending from a position substantially adjacent to said third end to a fourth end of each of said first, and second slotted links,   first and second slider pins fixedly disposed on said right and left back sides of said seat back frame, respectively, between said upper end and said lower end of said seat back frame, said first and second slider pins being slidably engaged in said slot of said first and second slotted links; and   first and second rear links each having a fifth end rigidly attached to said right and left bottom sides, respectively, of said seat bottom frame adjacent to said rearward end and a sixth end pivotally attached to an intermediate pivot point on each of said first and second slotted links, said intermediate pivot point being disposed intermediate of said third and fourth ends of said first and second slotted links;   whereby upon movement of said seat back frame from the upright position to the folded position, said first and second slotted links together with said first and second rear links operatively position said seat bottom frame forward and downward such that said seat back frame lies substantially flat and parallel to the floor.   
     
     
       9. The seat mounting apparatus according to claim 8, further comprises: a release lever pivotally attached to said lower end of said seat back frame and being adapted to selectively engage a striker mounted on the floor to lock said seat back frame in the upright position.   
     
     
       10. The seat mounting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said slot in each of said first and second slotted links is in the form of an arcuate slot with a radius of curvature directed toward the forward end of said seat bottom frame.